Friday 29 July 2016
The Weekend Sun
28
The Weekend Sun
Friday 29 July 2016
29
Baypark to Bayfair link upgrade Preliminary works on track The Baypark to Bayfair link upgrade will be built in two stages, and work is well underway on stage one. Stage one – enabling works In October last year the enabling works started. This involves moving the railway line, installing a noise wall along the rail boundary behind the Owens Place retail park, relocating services (gas, power, watermains and sewer), moving houses and constructing retaining walls. New rail crossing points will also be installed on Matapihi Road and State Highway 29A. This work will take place in August. Some traffic may be diverted during the work. More details will be made available closer to the the time. Stage one is due to be finished in December and stage two, construction of the Baypark to Bayfair link upgrade, is expected to start early 2017.
Project update
railway relocation: noise wall
Project objectives
A 210 metre long noise wall, made up of 70 concrete panels, has been installed along the rail boundary behind the Owens Place retail park.
• Improve the reliability of journey times and reduce congestion for all road users • Improve safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians • Improve the freight route to the Port of Tauranga • Separate the local and state highway traffic • Improve access for public transport and tourism
July 2016
Uncovering the past
There are two distinctive patterns on the concrete panels; one is a triangle and the other is circular. There are also three nine-metre sections of the wall that will be left blank, with no design, where a team of local artists will complete the work.
Panel design and proposed artwork The tangata whenua advisory group have been partnered with and are behind the designs on this noise wall. It is being used as an opportunity to tell a story about the history in the area. The triangle niho taniwha pattern is to portray the challenges and dangers we come up against along the paths in our own lives. The circular āwhiowhio pattern references the people who surround us and help us through. The pattern starts with us at the centre, surrounded by family. To complete the noise wall, a team of local artists has been commissioned to design and paint the three blank sections. Stu MacDonald and Owen Dippie were selected by the tangata whenua advisory group and are expected to complete the designs on the three panels over the next few months. Installation of the noise wall was completed in May.
a look ahead
Stone adze found, estimated from the 1600’s
Recently an archaeological discovery was made during the enabling works earthworks.
Stage one - enabling works Watermain relocation
Sewer protection
Railway line earthworks
GLOUCESTER ROAD
RN
TE
GIRVEN RO
GA
AN
UR
TA
S EA
K LIN
June
AD N
MA
U TR
EVERSHAM ROAD
rail track installation begins
NE
LA
Bayfair
The two noise wall panel designs
December
Existing rail corridor
Stage one completed
MAUNGANUI ROAD
Installing the 70 concrete panels along the new railway corridor
and his team uncovered further items that included
Proposed Baypark to Bayfair link upgrade
shell middens, a polished stone adze (estimated to be from the 1600’s), three stone sinkers used for
BayPark
fishing purposes and a number of obsidian pieces,
Stage two - main works July November
Gloucester road
Main contract tender process
Bayfair
ad Girven ro
STATE HIGHW AY
29
all of which appear to have been sourced from
AD
December
Purchase remaining properties
Contract award
d roa nui nga Mau
Contact details
email baypark2bayfair@nzta.govt.nz
Stage two physical works start
e an aL ng u Ma
a NG ra U Ta
N Er ST Ea
k LiN
e an nL ma u Tr
Baypark Stadium
The artefacts and features imply that the area was used for cooking and processing, while a small structure or windbreak was also likely to have
Project Manager Greig Stephen says the project team and tangata whenua advisory group have
Maunganui road
Owens Place
Mayor Island (Tuhua).
been present.
been working in partnership and protocols are in
Titoki Place
ELEVATED FLYOVERS ON/OFF RAMPS
ay 29a Highw State
In April registrations of interest were sought from Design and Construct teams looking to participate in the tender phase of the Baypark to Bayfair project. The tender phase will begin in July and the contract is likely to be awarded December 2016. Construction is expected to take three years.
March april 2017
Exeter Street (left in/out)
State Highway 2
Stage one - moving the railway line
Stage two - who’s constructing the new Baypark to Bayfair link upgrade?
Te
Maunganui road
Mata pih road i
November
n kso Jac reet ) St /out t in (lef
New rail corridor
ue ven rd a out) o c / Con left in (
IHI RO MATAP
OMANU GOLF CLUB
Following the discovery the project archaeologist
RELOCATED RAILWAY LOCAL ROADS STATE HIGHWAY WALKING / CYCLING ACCESS
place if koiwi (human bones) or taonga (an object that relates to Maori culture, history or society) are found. The items found are still being studied and have since been recorded in accordance with Heritage NZ conditions.
phone us on 07 927 6009
or check out www.nzta.govt.nz/b2b
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